Juice extractor

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to devise a juice extractor, The juice extractor  1  according to the present invention includes a helical spindle  6  connected to a power driven source  5 , a housing  2  having an inlet  3  in the upper part and an outlet  4  in the lower part, a fine grinding portion  35   c  and a refine grinding portion  35   d , at the end part of the helical spindle  6 , a drum cap  10  which includes endurable bushing element  9 , for the detail structure of the drum cap  10 , a thread tube  15  formed to the lateral direction to join with a pressure control cap  16  which has a squeezing flange  17  formed on the inner part of the circumference so as to press a circular protrusion  13  of the bushing element  9  in order to control the optimum squeezing pressure and provide the best squeezing force and maximize the effectiveness of the compression of foodstuff such as fruit or vegetable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention is directed to devise a juice extractor, more specifically to improvement of a juicer which can be easily controlled with simple manipulation for the optimum squeezing pressure in order to provide the best squeezing force and maximize the effectiveness of the compression depending on the kind of foodstuff such as fruit or vegetables.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A typical structure of squeezing-type extractor in the prior art relates to a helical spindle connected a power driving source to one end part without a supporting member to the other end part of the spindle. Due to no sustaining element for the rotating spindle, blades of the spindle are easily suffered from frictional abrasion with a squeeze housing or a filtering case resulting noisy sound while in the operation. Thus, problems related to the low rate of juice extraction and deficiency in the mechanical structure remain in the prior art.

[0005] So as to solve the above mentioned problems of juice extractor in the prior art, an utility patent application by the same inventor of this present invention was filed in the Korean Patent Office as the application No. 2001-033462.

[0006] As seen on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the juice extractor 30 in the prior application comprise a structure related to an inlet 32 in the upper part and an outlet 33 in the lower part of a housing 31, a helical spindle 35 located inside of the housing 31 being connected to a power driving source 34, a filtering case 36 or a squeeze housing(Not shown on drawings) which combines with the outer of the helical spindle in surrounding, and a bushing element 37 made of Acetyl-resin having the property of an excellent endurance being combined with a nozzle part 40 so that the bushing element 37 can supports the end part of the rotating helical spindle 35 with the combination of a drum cap 38.

[0007] The size of pin holes 36 a formed on the filtering case 31 was designed to fit with the technical specification of the helical spindle 35 which is partitioned in the sector of an inlet grinding portion 35 b, a fine grinding portion 35 c and a refine grinding portion 35 d to enhance the extracting efficiency of juice while in the squeezing operation. In addition, inside of a guide case 36 b, a conical extracting portion on 35 e of the helical spindle 35 being contacted with the elastic packing 39 helps to transport the foodstuff providing an appropriate squeezing pressure for the smooth operation of juicer.

[0008] But the above mentioned structure in the juice extract or 30 has problems in that the squeezing pressure exerted between the guide case 36 b and the elastic packing 39 remains alway constant with the change of the materials to be squeezed, which result the deficiency of squeezing operation, in addition, another noisy sound due to the friction between the rotating helical spindle 35 and the elastic packing 39 encountered, and futhermore the structure has no typical function or means for guiding effectively to extract the dregs of foodstuff while in the operation of squeezing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to achieve a new juice extractor enabling to easily set the best squeezing pressure with simple manipulation and eliminate the noisy sound between the helical spindle and the elastic packing.

[0010] The present invention provide an improved structure for a juice extractor to maximize the efficiency of juice extraction and to minimize frictional sound with the structural movement of a bushing element in connection with a helical spindle using a pressure control cap so as to adjust the squeezing pressure in a simple way and further to provide a new constitution for extracting the dregs of foodstuff in a very convenient way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembling parts of the juice extractor according to the prior art

[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the combination detail of FIG. 1

[0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the juice extractor according to the present invention

[0014]FIG. 4 is a partial end view showing a dregs extracting portion according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the embodiment of squeezing pressure according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a filtering case according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a helical spindle according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing the joined state of a drum cap and a bushing element taken on line A-A of FIG. 4.

[0019]FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing the joined state of a dregs guide cap taken on line B-B of FIG. 5.

[0020]FIG. 10 is a side view showing a pressure indicator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, the construction and operation of the present invention will be described below in detail as followings.

[0022] The juice extractor 1 according to the present invention comprise a housing 2 having an inlet 3 in the upper part and an outlet 4 in the lower part the passage of insertion and extraction of foodstuff, a helical spindle 6 connected to a power driving source 5 at the inside of the housing 2.

[0023] In detail, the helical spindle 6 is configured to divide into the partition having an inlet grinding portion 6 a, a fine grinding portion 6 b and a refine grinding portion 6 c, a conical extracting portion 6 e and a spindle end 7 having a plurality of helical groove 7 a formed on the surface.

[0024] Surrounding the helical spindle 6, a filtering case 8 or a squeeze housing (not shown on drawings) is mounted on the circumference of the helical spindle 6 and a bushing member 9 made of Acetyl-resin (synthetic resin or metallic substance) having the excellent property of endurance against abrasion is inserted in a drum cap 10 along the axis direction so that the bushing element 9 can support the rotating end of the helical spindle 35.

[0025] On the other hand, the size of pin holes 11 formed on the filtering case 31 is designed to decrease from the inlet grinding portion 6 a to the refine grinding portion 6 c in gradual as seen on FIG. 6.

[0026] Since the size of squeezed foodstuff longitudinally along the helical spindle 6 gradually diminish from the inlet grinding portion 6 a to refine grinding portion 6 c passing through the fine grinding portion 6 b bringing with the pressure increasement in the squeezed foodstuff along the helical spindle, it is necessary for making the size of pin hole 11 in decreasing continuously to meet with the decreasing size of foodstuff in the longitudinal direction in order to exclude the dregs of foodstuff in the extracted juice while in the transport of the squeezing operation.

[0027] As seen on FIG. 8, in order to support the rotating axis of spindle end 7, a drum cap 10 is designed to fit with a bushing element 9 which is combined with the spindle end 7 of the helical spindle 6 being contacted with the conical extracting portion 6 d. Specifically, the ring stopper 12 formed around the inner circumference of the drum cap 10 is configured to lock a circular protrusion 13 formed on the outer circumference of the bushing element 9. A key notch 12 a at least one formation around the ring stopper 12 of the drum cap 10 is necessary for the locking with a key 14 which is protrusively formed on the bushing element 9 in order to prevent the rotation of the bushing element 9 under the rotation of the spindle end 7.

[0028] In detail, the configuration related to the drum cap 10 as seen on FIG. 5 is following. A thread tube 15 is formed at the lateral end of the drum cap 10 in order to combine with a pressure control cap 16 which has a squeezing flange 17 around the inner circumference oppressing the circular protrusion 13 of the bushing element 9.

[0029] Between the bushing element 9 and the squeezing flange 17 of the pressure control cap 16, a rubber packing 18 having the excellent elastic property is inserted for the prevention of the juice leakage and the flexible movement of the filtering case 8 depending on the squeezing pressure in the housing 2.

[0030] In addition, for the safe joint between the thread tube 15 and the pressure control cap 16, a stooper groove 15 a and a screw stopper 16 a have formed as shown on the FIG. 5, which confines the complete locking state of the pressure control cap 16 and provide a limit of the squeezing pressure.

[0031] The indications for the variable squeezing pressure can be revealed by the squeezing indicator 19 in accordance with the screw lock of the pressure control cap 16 in relative with the thread tube 15 as shown on FIG. 10.

[0032] For an example, the character combination between the arrow mark on the surface of the drum cap 10 and the various characters concerning the relative squeezing pressures named on the surface of the pressure control cap 16 easily discerns the squeezing pressure according to the present invention.

[0033] On the other hand, at the end part of the bushing element 9 as shown on FIG. 5 or FIG. 9, a circular groove 20 is configured for the mount of a dregs guide cap 21 which can be detachably attached and rotatable along the circular groove 20.

[0034] For the detail shape of dregs guide cap 21, it has an inserting edge 22 having the opening of circumference directing to the below direction and a formation of a cap stooper 23 for the secure mount of the dregs guide cap 21 onto the bushing element 9.

[0035] Based on the above mentioned structure, the detail operational mechanism under the present invention will be described hereinbelow with a process illustration for making juice from foodstuff according to the present juice extractor.

[0036] With the insertion of foodstuff into the inlet 3, the juice extractor 1 with the electric power is ready to make juice according to the process of squeezing foodstuffs as follows.

[0037] The rotating helical spindle 6 having the screw-shaped blades of the inlet grinding portion 6 a and the fine grinding portion 6 b transports the foodstuff into the filtering case 8 which encircle the helical spindle 6 along the axis direction of the spindle.

[0038] The foodstuff transported by the spiral blades is forced to slice by the rotating blade of the helical spindle 6 and immediately to squeeze with the filtering case 8 resulting juice when it enter to the filtering case 8. The juice extracted between the filtering case 8 and the rotating helical spindle 6 passes through the pin hole formed on the filtering case 8 and flows from the outlet 4 to the outside.

[0039] Through the above transporting process, the remaining foodstuff along the helical spindle 6 is completely squeezed after passing through the area of the refine grinding portion 6 c and the conical extraction portion 6.

[0040] After the transporting and squeezing process for making juice, the residual dregs of foodstuff is extracted through the passage of the helical groove 7 a formed on the surface of the spindle end 7 which is combined with the bushing element 9 for the support of the axis rotation.

[0041] According to the embodiment regarding the shape of the pin hole 11 formed on the filtering case 8, the size of pin hole 11 decreases in gradual to meet with the diminishing size of foodstuff longitudinally along the helical spindle 6 from the inlet grinding portion 6 a to the refine grinding portion 6 c passing through the fine grinding portion 6 b. The size variation of the pin hole 11 in the filtering case 8 in linear along the longitudinal direction excludes effectively the insertion of foodstuff dregs in the juice while in the transporting or the squeezing operation.

[0042] According to the present invention, the typical mechanism with respect to the gap adjusting function between the conical extracting portion 6 d and the bushing element 9 mounted at the inside part of the drum cap 10 with the pressure control cap 16 enable to adjust the squeezing pressure and to maintain the pressure setting in the filtering case 8. In detail, the setting and maintaining of the squeezing pressure in the filtering case 8 is related to the combinative structure between the circular protrusion 13 having a key 14 formed on the outer surface of the bushing element 9 and the ring stopper 13 having the key notch 12, which results no rotational motion of the bushing element 9 although the bushing element 9 serves as a supporting means for the rotation of the spindle end 7. As a shock absorbing means, the rubber packing 18 inserted between the bushing element 9 and the squeezing flange 17 absorbs the applied pressure from the pressure control cap 16 and transmit it to the foodstuff in the filtering case 8 providing the easy extraction of the foodstuff dregs effectively with the help of the inner squeezing pressure while in the transportation of foodstuff.

[0043] Comparing with the prior art, the present invention drastically enhance the extraction efficiency of the foodstuff dregs and minimize the frictional noisy sound with the maximum efficiency of the juice extraction.

[0044] On the other hand, the screw stopper 16 a formed at the inside part of the pressure control cap 16 joins the stopper groove 15 a formed on the thread tube 15 of the drum cap 10 for a limit setting of the squeezing pressure. With this structure, the pressure control cap 16 can be easily detached after the complete screw locking of the pressure control cap 1 6 and provide a limit for the applied squeezing pressure.

[0045] As seen on FIG. 10, the squeezing indicator 1nd the characters denoted on the outer surface of the drum cap 10 and the pressure control cap 16 enable a user to control the squeezing pressure of juice extractor in a simple way.

[0046] In addition, the circular groove 20 formed on the circumference of the bushing element 9 provides rotatable mount of the dregs guide cap 21 along the circumferential end of the bushing element 9. The dregs guide cap 21 prevents the scattering of foodstuff dregs while in the operation and uses for the checking of the extracted dregs after rotating the cap 21 along the circular groove 20 very simple way. In the case of no smooth dregs extraction, a user can adjust the distance of gap between the conical extracting portion 6 d of the helical spindle 6 and the busing element 9 using the pressure control cap 16 for the smooth extraction of juice and dregs.

[0047] For an example, in the case of the fruit kind, the setting for the squeezing pressure in connection with the pressure control cap 16 is suitable for a low setting, but for the case of tuber kind, the setting would be higher setting while the sort of vegetable may occupy the medium position.

[0048] In summary, the juice extractor 1 according to the present invention includes a helical spindle 6 located inside of a housing 2 and connected to a power driving source 5, the housing 2 having an inlet 3 in the upper part and an outlet 4 in the lower part, a filtering case 8 or a squeeze housing (not shown on drawings) which encircle the helical spindle 6 which is divided into the part of an inlet grinding portion 6 a, a fine grinding portion 6 b and a refine grinding portion 6 c. At the end part of the helical spindle 6, a drum cap 10 which encircle a bushing member 9 having the high endurance property for abrasion has connected to the spindle end 7 for the support of axis rotation. At the lateral direction(of the drum cap 10, a thread tube 15 formed to join with a pressure control cap 16 which has a squeezing flange 17 on the inner part of the circumference so as to press the circular protrusion 13 of the bushing element 9.

[0049] In addition, the size of pin holes 11 formed on the filtering case 8 has designed to decrease from the inlet grinding portion 6 a to the refine grinding portion 6 c in gradual and the bushing element 9 is designed to move with the operation of pressure control cap 16 in order to control the gap adjusting junction and the squeezing pressure between the helical spindle 6 and the bushing element 9. Moreover, a dregs guide cap 21 is mounted to the edge of the bushing element 9 for guiding the dregs of foodstuff.

[0050] Accordingly, the present invention is achieved to provide a very useful and practical juice extractor in that the squeezing pressure related to the transporting foodstuff in the filtering case 8 can be easily controlled with the simple manipulation for the maximum extraction efficiency, the achievement of the minimum friction among constituting members enable to decrease the noisy sound drastically and elongate the life time of the juicer, and furthermore the foodstuff dregs are easily extracted. 

I what is claimed is:
 1. A juice extractor 1 comprising: a housing 2 having said inlet 3 in upper part and said outlet 4 in lower part; a helical spindle 6 divided into said inlet grinding portion 6 a, said fine grinding portion 6 b, said refine grinding portion 6 c, said conical extracting portion 6 d and said spindle end 7, and being connected to said power driving source 5; a filtering case 8 encircling said helical spindle 6; a drum cap 10 having said ring stopper 12 configured to fit said circular protrusion 13 formed on said bushing element 9; a bushing element 9 having said dregs extracting groove 9 a mounted insertable into said drum cap 10; a pressure control cap 16 having said squeezing flange 17 so as to oppress said circular protrusion 13 of said bushing element 9; and a thread tube 15 of said drum cap 10 formed to join said pressure control cap
 16. 2. A juice extractor as recited in claim 1 wherein said filtering case 8 is characterized in that the size of said pin hole 11 formed on said filtering case 8 is decreased continuously from the position of said inlet grinding portion 6 a to the position of said refine grinding portion 6 c passing through said fine grinding portion 6 b.
 3. A juice extractor as recited in claim 1 wherein said drum cap 10 is characterized in that said key notch 12 a at least one formation around said ring stopper 12 formed on said drum cap 10 is designed to fit with said key 14 protrusively formed on said bushing element
 9. 4. A juice extractor as recited in claim 1, further comprising; an elastic rubber packing 18 is provided between said bushing element 9 and said squeezing flange 17 of said pressure control cap
 16. 5. A juice extractor as recited in claim 1, further comprising; a pair of said stopper groove 15 a and said screw stopper 16 a formed on said thread tube 15 and said pressure control cap 16 is provided in order to confine the locking state of said pressure control cap
 16. 6. A juice extractor as recited in claim 1 further comprising; a squeezing indicator 19 having the making on the surface of said drum cap 10 and said pressure control cap 16 is characterized in that the combination of the markings discerns the squeezing pressure.
 7. A juice extractor as recited in claim 1 further comprising; a circular groove 20 is provided for the mount of said dregs guide cap 21 which can be detachably attached and rotatable along said circular groove
 20. 